Helping The Most Vulnerable... Together
Irish charities unite to launch global coronavirus appeal
(From the October - December 2020 issue of VOX)
Photo: Fabeha Monir/ActionAid
Six of Ireland’s leading international aid charities are teaming up to respond to the worsening global coronavirus pandemic and to save lives in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Many countries facing rising coronavirus cases are already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement as well as widespread poverty, increased rates of hunger and poor health care. The agencies have combined forces to form the Irish Emergency Alliance for a coordinated response.
The coronavirus appeal will focus on: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. These countries are home to more than 17 million refugees living in camps or slums. The coronavirus appeal will fund food, water and medical care, and provide soap, masks and vital information to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Irish Emergency Alliance is made up of ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa, Tearfund and World Vision, aid agencies with programmes in 85 countries and the global presence, expertise and experience required to respond quickly to this and future crises.
“The launch of the Irish Emergency Alliance marks a milestone for Ireland’s international aid response,” said Sean Copeland, Acting CEO of Tearfund Ireland. “Working together with other leading Irish charities will enable us to increase the impact we can have on the ground; save more lives and help more people in times of emergency. This IEA Coronavirus appeal is the first of what I hope will be many opportunities for us to combine forces and benefit from economies of scale in helping those in desperate need.
“It has been great to work with a group of like-minded individuals to create a more efficient way for the Irish public to give in an emergency and to bring relief and help quickly to where it is needed most,” Sean added.
Helen Keogh, Chair of the Irish Emergency Alliance, said the unprecedented scale of the global coronavirus pandemic motivated the six charities to come together.
“We have all seen the devastating impact of the crisis in Ireland, so you can imagine how much harder it is for people living in countries without enough doctors, nurses, ICU beds or ventilators. Without the safety net of furlough schemes, many who lost their jobs are now struggling to feed their families. The situation is even more critical in countries already struggling with conflict and massive refugee and displacement crises,” Keogh said. “Some of the world’s poorest people are being pushed even further into poverty and disruptions to farming and supply chains risk severe food shortages.”
“I am proud to see these Irish agencies combining their strengths at this critical time to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”
Expressing his support for the Irish Emergency Alliance, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, said, “I am proud to see these Irish agencies combining their strengths at this critical time to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Through the Irish Aid programme, my Department has already provided the member agencies of the Irish Emergency Alliance over €16m in 2020 to provide humanitarian and development assistance.”
By working together, the Irish Emergency Alliance can reduce fundraising costs to make donations stretch even further and has pledged to work together in this way in response to future humanitarian crises.
Photo: Tearfund/MERATH
A Syrian refugee family from Aleppo, now living in a one-roomed tent in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon received soap and other hygiene products from Tearfund’s local partner MERATH (Middle East Revive and Thrive). Grandmother Aida* said, “We are very afraid of the virus, especially for the children and for us as we are old. If we were to catch the virus, we would never be able to get proper treatment.”
A refugee mother and son from Afrin, Syria also received soap and other hygiene products from MERATH. Khadija* said, “The situation is very hard on everybody. There is no work and we cannot buy as much food as we used to. We are not allowed to go out, unless it is absolutely necessary. We never mingle with others so that we don’t catch the virus. We could not bear the cost of any treatment in case one of our family members gets infected.”
Dr Aowfee Khan works in a Christian Aid supported health centre in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. He said, “When the refugees heard that there had been cases of coronavirus in the camps they were really scared. Some refugees think that if an ambulance takes a patient away that they won’t ever return.”
Anowara who lives in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh was trained by ActionAid so she could make masks to help keep her family safe from coronavirus.
*names changed
Please donate at www.irishemergencyalliance.org, by calling 1800 939 979 or by texting IEA to 50300 to give €4.
